ABSITE Colorectal Verified Exam Questions and Answers Latest
update 2026/2027
Question:
and
Answer:
Question:
Where does the hindgut begin and end?
Answer:
Hindgut begins at distal third of the transverse colon and extends to the rectum
Question:
The hindgut relies on which artery for its blood supply?
Answer:
Inferior mesenteric artery
Question:
The lateral peritoneal reflections of the ascending and descending colon
Answer:
White line of Toldt
Question:
What parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract do not have a serosa?
Answer:
Esophagus, middle, and distal rectum
Question:
What are the major anatomic differences between the small bowel and colon?
Answer:
The small bowel is smooth, whereas the colon has fat appendages (appendices epiploicae), haustra,
and taenia coli
,Question:
What is the arterial blood supply to the rectum?
Answer:
Proximal:
superior hemorrhoidal artery (superior rectal artery) from the inferior mesenteric artery Middle:
middle hemorrhoidal artery (middle rectal artery) from the hypogastric artery (internal iliac artery)
Distal: inferior hemorrhoidal artery (inferior rectal artery) from the pudendal artery, which is a branch
of hypogastric artery (internal iliac artery)
Question:
What is the venous drainage of the rectum?
Answer:
Proximal: inferior mesenteric vein that joins the splenic vein to drain into the portal vein Middle: iliac
vein into the inferior vena cava Distal: iliac vein into inferior vena cava
Question:
What is the purpose of the colon?
Answer:
Water, sodium, and bile salt absorption and stool storage
Question:
What is the main nutrient of a colonocyte?
Answer:
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) (butyrate)
Question:
How long is the rectum?
Answer:
12 to 15 cm
Question:
What are the approximate proximal and distal extents of the anal canal/rectum/rectosigmoid junction
from the anal verge?
Answer:
Anal canal: 0 to 5 cm Rectum: 5 to 15 cm Rectosigmoid junction: 15 to 18 cm
, Question:
What 2 points are considered to mark the location of the rectosigmoid junction?
Answer:
The distal point at which the taeniae converge at the level of the sacral promontory
Question:
What do anatomists consider the distal extent of the rectum versus what surgeons consider the distal
extent of the rectum?
Answer:
Anatomists: dentate line Surgeons: proximal border of the anal sphincter complex
Question:
What is the eponym for the extension of the peritoneal cavity between the rectum and back wall of the
uterus in the female human body?
Answer:
Pouch of Douglas (Ehrhardt-Cole Recess/rectouterine excavation/rectouterine pouch)
Question:
What is the deepest point of the peritoneal cavity in women?
Answer:
Pouch of Douglas
Question:
What is another name for the rectovesicular fascia in men/rectovaginal fascia in women?
Answer:
Denonvilliers fascia
Question:
What is the eponym for a mass that forms in the pelvic cul-de-sac from a drop metastases from a
visceral tumor that may be detected by a digital rectal examination?
Answer:
Bloomer shelf
Question:
What is the thick condensation of endopelvic fascia that connects the presacral fascia to the fascia
propria at the level of S4, which then extends to the anorectal ring called?
Answer:
Waldeyer fascia (rectosacral fascia)
update 2026/2027
Question:
and
Answer:
Question:
Where does the hindgut begin and end?
Answer:
Hindgut begins at distal third of the transverse colon and extends to the rectum
Question:
The hindgut relies on which artery for its blood supply?
Answer:
Inferior mesenteric artery
Question:
The lateral peritoneal reflections of the ascending and descending colon
Answer:
White line of Toldt
Question:
What parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract do not have a serosa?
Answer:
Esophagus, middle, and distal rectum
Question:
What are the major anatomic differences between the small bowel and colon?
Answer:
The small bowel is smooth, whereas the colon has fat appendages (appendices epiploicae), haustra,
and taenia coli
,Question:
What is the arterial blood supply to the rectum?
Answer:
Proximal:
superior hemorrhoidal artery (superior rectal artery) from the inferior mesenteric artery Middle:
middle hemorrhoidal artery (middle rectal artery) from the hypogastric artery (internal iliac artery)
Distal: inferior hemorrhoidal artery (inferior rectal artery) from the pudendal artery, which is a branch
of hypogastric artery (internal iliac artery)
Question:
What is the venous drainage of the rectum?
Answer:
Proximal: inferior mesenteric vein that joins the splenic vein to drain into the portal vein Middle: iliac
vein into the inferior vena cava Distal: iliac vein into inferior vena cava
Question:
What is the purpose of the colon?
Answer:
Water, sodium, and bile salt absorption and stool storage
Question:
What is the main nutrient of a colonocyte?
Answer:
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) (butyrate)
Question:
How long is the rectum?
Answer:
12 to 15 cm
Question:
What are the approximate proximal and distal extents of the anal canal/rectum/rectosigmoid junction
from the anal verge?
Answer:
Anal canal: 0 to 5 cm Rectum: 5 to 15 cm Rectosigmoid junction: 15 to 18 cm
, Question:
What 2 points are considered to mark the location of the rectosigmoid junction?
Answer:
The distal point at which the taeniae converge at the level of the sacral promontory
Question:
What do anatomists consider the distal extent of the rectum versus what surgeons consider the distal
extent of the rectum?
Answer:
Anatomists: dentate line Surgeons: proximal border of the anal sphincter complex
Question:
What is the eponym for the extension of the peritoneal cavity between the rectum and back wall of the
uterus in the female human body?
Answer:
Pouch of Douglas (Ehrhardt-Cole Recess/rectouterine excavation/rectouterine pouch)
Question:
What is the deepest point of the peritoneal cavity in women?
Answer:
Pouch of Douglas
Question:
What is another name for the rectovesicular fascia in men/rectovaginal fascia in women?
Answer:
Denonvilliers fascia
Question:
What is the eponym for a mass that forms in the pelvic cul-de-sac from a drop metastases from a
visceral tumor that may be detected by a digital rectal examination?
Answer:
Bloomer shelf
Question:
What is the thick condensation of endopelvic fascia that connects the presacral fascia to the fascia
propria at the level of S4, which then extends to the anorectal ring called?
Answer:
Waldeyer fascia (rectosacral fascia)
